Heremans Ceusters, the story continues as Hans Eijerkamp and Sons

The Union of Antwerp in Belgium knows many, many top lofts, but the partnership of
Heremans-Ceusters from Vorselaar is just one of the main lofts who performed that
well over the last couple of years that they were among the champions every year. The
won following championships in the High School of the Belgium Pigeon sport (7,160
members)

According the leading Belgium Pigeon magazine De Duif; The partnership Heremans
Ceusters is for sure the best loft in the 21st century in the province Antwerp.

The introduction

During the National Pigeon Show in 2005 Hans Eijerkamp and Sons met Leo Heremans
and Charel Ceusters who were introduced by Willem de Bruyn a very good pigeon friend
of Hans Eijerkamp. After a nice pigeon talk an appointment was made and therefore in
the winter 2005 Hans and Evert-Jan Eijerkamp went to the loft of Heremans-Ceusters.
They were accompanied by loft managers Gerard Boesveld and Piet Schrijvers as well
as Henk Jurriens. During this visit, The Eijerkamp Team was surprised by its quality,
and therefore they decided to order 50 young birds 2006. All 50 young birds were
transferred direct in the Eijerkamp racing lofts. In the summer of 2006 another 30
young birds came to strengthen the breeding lofts. All superb quality young birds that
really astonished the Eijerkamp Racing Team in the racing season of 2006.
 Hans Eijerkamp & Leo Heremans

The strain of Heremans Ceusters

Leo Heremans, a diamond cutter, was introduced with pigeons in the 1986 during the
kermis festival in Vorselaar. Leo was drinking a few pints with Marcel Mols and the
subject was turned on pigeons. Since then Leo was infected by the virus and a new
partnership was born. Marcel Mols died in 1997 due to canker and Leo needed another
person to assist him as he suffered the pigeon-long since 1994. He found in Charel
Ceusters a fantastic fancier who was willing to help him. He put Charel on the payroll
and the new partnership Heremans Ceusters was born. The base for their restart was
a few pigeons from his former partnership. One of these pigeons was a granddaughter
of the "Sony" from the Houben Family. Another pigeon that was very successful was
the "Goede Witpen" who won 18x first prize. But Leo and Charel were on the move
and they went to Maurice Hasendonckx were they were so impressed by his quality that
Leo ordered a complete round of all breeders. Another succeeding move was to Gert
Lauwerijs where Leo noticed 2 full brothers to the "Kannibaal" from Dirk van Dijck, He
could not buy those 2 brothers, but they agreed to breed together with the best hens
Leo had. Leo also bought 2 fantastic hens in the total auction of Jan Diels from
Vorselaar and with both hens he succeeded very much. One of the most spectacular
moves from Leo was his visit to Gust Jansen in Beerse. There he would buy the
"Olympiade", who was 2nd National Ace pigeon short-distance KBDB in 2002.
"Olympiade" also represented Belgium at the Olympiad in Lievin (France) in Cat. A.
Despite the high amount offered Gust did not sell the Olympiad to Leo. In a 2nd visit,
Leo still couldnt sleep because of this pigeon, Leo bought the enjoyment of the
"Olympiade", which meant that 1 month the bird bred at Gust Jansen and the month
after he bred children at Leo Heremans.

In the meantime the success of the birds from Heremans Ceusters began. Especially
on Quievrain and Noyon he was the loft to beaten in Vorselaar. He also played in the
Union of Antwerp and there the competitors learned quickly who they were, as they
started to dominate here also. In the Antwerp province the Heremans Ceusters birds
were every year in the top of the list and championships. Heremans Ceusters won in
the provincial championships Antwerp KBDB (7,158 members)

2001 : 1st champion

2002 : 3rd champion
2003 : 1st champion
2004 : 1st champion
2005 : 1st champion
2006 : 2nd champion

But Leo kept his eye for top birds even when he was on the top. You always need to
improve he said, and so he bought the "Figo" in the total auction of Patrick and Guido
Claes. "Figo" was 1st ace pigeon in the Union of Antwerp for the middle distance in
2004. He also was co-winner of the 2nd Nat. Championship yearlings KBDB.

Total auction of Heremans Ceusters in March 2007

In October 2006 it was the beginning for some dramatic months at Leo Heremans. At
his lofts thieves came 3 times to steal 19 valuable pigeons. Leo could not sleep
anymore, with any noise hearing he went out of bed to see if these people tried to have
another attempt in stealing more birds. Also the health of his wife turned out to be a
crucial fact; she had cancer and needed to go to hospital often and oftener. Therefore
the decision was made to have all birds auctioned by the Magazine De Duif. The total
sale of the birds turned out to be a huge success. The total number of pigeons
auctioned made a fortune. All top pigeons at the auction went into the lofts of Hans
Eijerkamp and Sons. The star of the auction, the famous "Euro", was transferred for
the huge amount of EUR 28,800.
In this auction only the crme of the crop was bought by the Eijerkamp Family;

1. "Euro", 1st Ace pigeon Western Nations Cup 100 400 Km 2003
2. "Rossi", 1st Quievrain 2,508 birds and cock of the new super pair
3. "Spinneke", daughter "Olympiade" and hen of the new super pair
4. Mother "Euro", the dam to the famous "Euro"
5. "Charlene", mother 11th Nat. Ace pigeon Young birds WHZB and daughter
"Olympiade"
6. "Peter", sire 11th Nat. Ace pigeon Young birds WHZB and grandson "Kleine
Gert"
7. Mother "Charel", dam "Charel" fastest Haasrode 16,209 bird and daughter
"Olympiade"
8. "Goochelaar", "Super breeder" and father to "Rossi", "Kimble" 5x 1st
9. "Mysterious", daughter "Olympiade"
10. "Jackpot", son "Olympiade" and father "Di Caprio" 3x 1st prize
11. "Lichte Blauwe", Son "Olympiade" x "Goudklompje"
12. "Blauwe 707", daughter "Euro"

Besides these birds bought in the auction Hans Eijerkamp and Sons bought 40 more
young birds from the 1st round in 2007 who were bred prior before the auction of all
birds.

In the racing season of 2006 they were pleasantly surprised by the great results of
these young birds. In many races they were the birds to beat, and immediately two
original flew a first price. Also in 2007 and 2008 these new birds showed that their
capacity to win is high and therefore many top results achieved at the Eijerkamp lofts
and also in many other lofts. Again in the 2009 season, the first performences with the
descendants showed already great progress and Hans Eijerkamp is convinced that
these birds will be the new Janssen pigeons from this century.

The climax till now with the Heremans - Ceusters is the participation of "Finette" as 2nd
best Dutch bird Cat. B 350 - 600 km at the German Olympiad in Dortmund in 2009.
This is a great achievement and one thing is for certain; The Heremans - Ceusters
strain continues at Hans Eijerkamp and Sons.